Portable lamp



F. c. KOLLATH 2,287,109

PORTABLE LAMP Filed July l, 1940 June 23, 1942.

Patented `Func 23, 1942 STAT 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a portable lamp, and in particular to a lighting fixture wherein the socket supporting casing is provided with a handle which provides a hook permitting the fixture to be hung on a support.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved combined hook and handle for a portable electric lamp, whereby the lamp may be used in its normal capacity and still permit it to be Asuspended from a support. l

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a portable lamp which has a handle detachably secured to the socket member whereby a commercial Velectric connecter can be equipped with a handle hook.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined handle and hook having an opening in a wall thereof through which the electric conductors pass into a passage provided in the body of the hook-handle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision oi a portable lamp which has the usual lamp supporting member to which there is applied a threaded bushing having threaded engagement with a screw-threaded nipple formed on the base of a combined hook-handle.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a handle in the form of a hook for portable lamps in which the handle has a passage into which the electric connecters are received after passing through an opening in a wall of the handle, the handle also having a threaded nipple detachably engaging a threaded bushing carried by the lamp socket or connecter casing, means also being provided to prevent rotation or detachment oi the handle with the casing.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specication.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail elevation of a portable lamp structure and embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational View at right angles to Fig. l, parts being broken away for the sake of clearness; and

Fig. 3 is a view showing certain parts disassociated to illustrate the manner in which the bushing is mounted in the connecter casing.

The particular structure herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a casing or housing l, which is preferably made of iiexible rubber or rubber-like material, al-

though it may be made oi any other suitable material. The casing I is made hollow to provide anV inner aperture or chamber 2 to house an electric connecter such as a conventional screwthreaded shell with which a lamp 3 makes electric contact in the usual manner. Thus the casing l comprises the outer protective barrel for the contact shell or the lamp bulb socket, and thereby replaces the usual outer shell or barrel which is generally made from brass'A or other metallic material. Switch mechanism 4 is operatively arranged in the casing or housing l to turn on or off the electric supply coming through the electric conductors 5,"the conductors being electrically connected to the electric connecter and switch mechanism. Switch operating means 6 projects through the side wall oi the casing to control the supply of electric current to the lamp. The conductors 5 are insulated as indicated at 1, and are encased in a sheath 8 forming a cable 9.

The casing or housing l has a central aperture or opening l0 which communicates with the chamber 2 to permit entrance of the cable which makes electrical contact with the mechanism inside the casing. A bushing Il, which is suitably arranged in the casing l at the opening l, is provided with internal screw threads and has a central opening l2 therethrough. The bushing is suitably secured to the casing in any desired manner, such as by molding the bushing in the rubber body, or it may be demountably arranged in place. When the bushing is demountable, the inner wall of the rubber body surrounding the opening lll maybe provided with ribs I3 and recesses Il for complementary engagement with the recesses I5 and ribs IS on the outside of the bushing, Fig. 3. Also, upper and lower annular ribs l1 and l, respectively, may be formed on the inner wall of the body lil to position the bushing. In cases Where the bushing is molded in the rubber body, the ribs and recesses on the bushing provide a tight bond between the bushing and body to secure the bushing rigidly in place.

The internally threaded bushing I'I is adapted to receive an externallythreaded nipple 20 which is fastened securely to the base 2l of a combined hook and handle member or element 22, whereby the fixture may be hooked over a support if desired. The combined hook and handle 22 is preferably made in one piece, such as by casting or molding, and it may be rubber covered if desired. The hook part 23 of the membei` 22 extends upwardly in the form of an arc or hook from the base part 2l, and its side edges extend inwardly in the form of ribs 24 to provide an open passage 25 into which the cable 9 is received. The cable extends through an aperture or opening 26 in an end wall of the member 22, being received in the passage 25 as it passes through the nipple 20 to the chamber 2.

A set screw 36 passes through an opening 21 in the housing and through a threaded opening 28 in the bushing ll for locking engagement with the nipple 2B so as to hold the member 22 in proper relative position with respect to the casing, and to prevent accidental turning of thei nipple in the bushing.

The casing I may be provided also with an exteriorly formed recess 29 at the lower end thereof to receive the clamping collar 30 of a lamp guard 3|. The recess 29 may be formed by a depression in the casing, or it may be the space lying between upper and lower annular ribs 32 and 33, as shown.

The invention provides a lamp and guard holder having a combined handle and hook whereby the device may be easily handled, or hooked on a support. The device is durable and vrigid in construction and comprises relatively few and simple parts. Moreover, the easy assembly of the structure is a desirable feature in that replacements may be made easily and quickly. The hook member, being hollow, in that it has the passageway 25, affords a means whereby the cable is out of the Way and will not become dislodged or tangled.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacricing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claim.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

A portable lamp of the character described comprising a hollow casing member of insulating material and of substantially the same transverse cross-sectional area throughout its length, a contact shell providing a socket for detachably receiving a lamp 1bulb base in said casing member, said casing member being the outer protective barrel for said contact shell of the lamp bulb socket, a separate rigid member at one end of said casing member, hollow nipple means for attaching said rigid member to said casing member substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of the casing member, conductors extending through said hollow nipple means for connecting said lamp socket to a source of power, said rigid member having a portion adjacent the casing member forming substantially a continuation of the outer surface of the casing member and in cooperation with the casing member providing a handle for said lamp, said rigid member having a configuration substantially that of a portion of an elongated ellipse and being of relatively large cross-sectional area, the major axis of said rigid member extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of the casing member, said rigid member together with said casing member being of such length and shape as to be readily grasped in the palm of a hand, and said rigid member providing a suspending hook portion at the end of said substantially eliptical portion.

FRANCIS C. KOLLATH. 

